Thursday, October 30, 2008

CHINOIS TROIS

Our current production "Three Delivery" is taking off worldwide. However there are some troubles finding a suitable name overseas and even here in French Canada. I think we should get some "Chinois Trois" t shirts made. I just like how it rolls.

Monday, October 27, 2008

SPRAYCHEL ON REPUBLICRATS!

The latest in the Spraychel Campaign. Just finished last week here at Fatkat. Produced by Geremy Walker, animated almost entirely by Dave Rigley. A project brought to us by the Letter R, Generate, Story Worldwide and the number 5.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

CBDC COMMERCIAL

A few weeks ago some great video production guys were in to shoot us Fatkats in a commercial to support the CBDC. How could we say no?!

The CBDC is a great organization who did in fact help us start fatkat here in Miramichi. Great support when you need them and they act fast too. Don't hesitate to hit them up when if you're thinking of starting a business or expanding your existing one.

Monday, October 13, 2008

MKIDS VISIT FATKAT

One of the possibilities on the horizon is a little show we're doing with Eric and Norma from Mkids Entertainment from Montreal. Nicknamed "Lil' Mo'", the show showcases Arabian culture and stories with a modern twist.

Norma Denys is a veteran animation producer/director, anyone remember Turtle Island? Well, that was her! Her and one of her partners came down a few weeks ago and well, I just got around to posting pics cause, well I'm just busy.

Eric Mantion comes into the animation industry fresh, so they chose the right studio to help them along! This guy is alot of fun.

Friday, October 10, 2008

600+ DRAWINGS IN 60+ SECONDS

The last year in doodles left on the old site. Warning, some are less then pleasant, it's funny how people all draw the same thing. Or perhaps it's all the same person. Either or, all are entertaining. Hide your eyes if you're a small child or a big baby.

Maybe when the new, new site is launched we'll have the doodle pad again?!

WELCOME TO BLACK WILLOW DIGITAL

A small animation company has been attracted to the Miramichi from Ontario by the prospect of freelance work with FatKat Animation Studios, its founders say.

Black Willow Digital, a two-person company made up of two graduates from the animation program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont, moved to Miramichi in September.

One of the animators, Tim Martin, said the company initially planned to set up in Windsor, but the economy in that city was moving in another direction. They then applied to FatKat to do in-house freelance work on the studio's show "Three Delivery," and moved to Miramichi soon after to be "closer to the source."

He said Black Willow's dealings with FatKat had been good so far.

"They've been very helpful with everything we've asked, any advice we've needed," Martin said. "I would consider it a very good relationship."

He said he and his partner, Nicola Hartley, enjoy living in Miramichi, and plan to work with FatKat until the end of the current season of Three Delivery at least. If their relationship with FatKat ends, the two plan to look in Miramichi and the rest of the province for other contracts.

Jeff MacTavish, the city's economic development officer, said the fact that FatKat had attracted other animation companies was a sign it was doing well, despite an unfavourable tax credit system.

"They're getting so much work they have to subcontract it, so it's a very positive move," he said.

DACAPO'S NEW BRAND OF SHIRTS

Friday, October 03, 2008

10 TIPS FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCES

Repost from 10/22/2005

Image is everything, be selective in business of whom you chose to reveal your innerself to.

Double check when travelling, don't assume it's been taken care of. Analyze everything you need to get to point B from point A and then return. Do you have your ticket? How are you getting to the airport, how are you getting to the hotel? Is it confirmed? Is it close the festival? - Cab bills can add up. If you're walking be sure you have comfortable shoes, you'll be on your feet all day. Be sure you plan out and double check all your transportation and accomodations.

There are reasons you should plan to show up to the airport 2 hours before your flight leaves. It's not as easy as just checking in and going through security or customs. Most of these reasons were totally unexpected as I experienced first hand recently. Flat tires, traffic jams, massive line ups, missing tickets, mistakes in booking and god knows what else could happen. Keep in mind that some airlines close the check in counter for some flights up to 45 minutes before boarding. If you're flying internationally it's even more important, because in my case recently I had to take 3 seperate flights to get to my destination, if you miss the first flight, you miss all the flights, and airlines such as Air Canada aren't forgiving or very helpful. You'll have to pay for new tickets and at full price on short notice. This could risk your entire investment into this trip. Thousands and thousands of dollars. Hell if your business is small enough, it could collapse your company if you don't have a back up plan that works. All because you didn't leave early enough. DO NOT LIVE BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS!

If you're bringing your laptop and you're in another country, be sure to have an international power adapter.

If you don't have a cell phone, get one; you need it, trust me. Register your number in the festival guide. It's so important for schedule conflicts and new appointments as well keeping in touch with your folks back at home. If you're in another country, get a calling card that you can program your phone with.

If you're not making your appointments with new companies, be sure you screen all the selections your assistants are making. The last thing you want is a day full of appointments with studios that are competing with you for service work. It's rarely, that you'll have anything to talk about.

Don't mix vacation with business. It's like oil and water, you need to concentrate on one or the other. During business trips you'll need the time between meetings and at night to prepare for the next day. Also, you'll be missing the cocktail parties; now if you drink, it's not important if you drink or not. But it's a great way to meet people, and this is what markets are all about. Keep business and pleasure seperate, plan to bring loved ones after or before the conferences or festivals. It'll be the same and you'll be refreshed and relaxed.

Be prepared to talk about your projects and your studios capabilities. Your proprietary projects if you're pitching them, should be professionally prepared and complete in the pitch. You'll need lots of artwork and if possible, an animated clip. Nothing sells a show like having an animated clip. Nothing.

When Scheduling meetings, double check the time and the exact location of the meeting. Even to the point of the physical description of the person you're meeting. Double check by sending an email but use that damn mobile phone or drop by their booth. Get in touch. Be sure. It is so embarrassing when you miss a meeting and it does nothing for your first impression. Do you think they'll want to do business with anyone who isn't punctual or has no concept of time? Forget about excuses. Be there, and double check. They'll be impressed if you do.

If you're looking for co-production partners or alliances treat your projects together seriously even if they're just initial talks and or spec' work gigs. If you accept a project, you accept everything to do with that project - no matter if it pays or not. You accept it like it was a paying gig. Do not miss deadlines, do not procrastinate. Get it done and do it with pride like it was any other production. I've made this mistake and will not again.

Be careful of your image at festivals. If you act like an idiot, getting obnoxiously drunk, yelling and generally fucking about at parties do you really think that your pre-school show that you're pitching the next day is going to be well received by a buyer that perhaps witnessed your spectacle the night before? Let's face it, Fatkats have alot of fun and pride themselves at being individuals to say the least. We drink, we tell jokes and pull pranks on people, hell we even gave out Fatkat condoms at this year's Mipcom! But we are selective of our targets at all times. We are respectful of our all our clients and alliances and you should as well. We wear Kustom Fatkat Hockey Jerseys at every event and conference. This isn't offensive it's smart, a great marketing tool that get us press and recognition. Taking your shirts off or getting shitfaced and dancing at tables get you the same, but it creates in my mind a negative impression or at the very least a limiting one. Be selective of whom you reveal yourself to. Be silly but not too silly, be serious but not too serious, but always be fun and show that you'd be professional and a blast to work with.

These tips brought to you by the letter F and the number 9 - you sunk my battleship.